Safety device for overdriven extractors



c. M. OTIS ET AL SAFETY DEVICE FOR OVERDRIVEN EXTRACTORS Nov. 13, 1928.

Filed Oct 9, 1926 5 Sheets-Sheet 1 ATTO NEYS Nov. 13, 1928.

. c. M. OTIS ET AL SAFETY DEVICE FOR OVERDRIVEN EXTRACTORS Filed 001;.9, 1926 5 Sheets-Sheet 2 Nov. 13, 1928.

' c. M. OTIS ET AL SAFETY DEVICE FOR OVERDRIVEN EXTRACTORS Filed Oct.1926 5 Sheets-Sheet 3 pa 6; A TTOR/Vli KS C. M. OTIS ET AL SAFETY DEVICEFOR OVERDRIVEN EXTRACTORS Filed Oct. 9, 1926 5 Sheets-Staget 4 lIflIIll/I 1 11v Vii/V Nov. 13, 1928. 1,691,122 c. M. OTIS ET AL SAFETY DEVICEFOR OVERDRIVEN EXTRACTORS Filed Oct. 1926 5 Sheets-Sheet 5 11v VENTO M727.

By EWd A TTORNE Y5 Patented Nov. 13, 1928.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

CHARLES M. OTIS, OF ROCHESTER, NEW YORK, .AND FORREST J. COUCH, CINCIN-NATI, OHIO, ASSIGNORS TO THE AMERICAN LAUNDRY MACHINERY COMPANY,'OFNORWOOD STATION, CINCINNATI, OHIO, A CORPORATION OF OHIO.

SAFETY DEVICE non ovnnnnrvnn nxcrnaorons.

Application filed October e, 1926. Serial No. 140,573.

This invention relates to centrifugalextractors such as are employed inlaundries for the purpose of removing the bulk of the water from washedclothes, and has special reference to the provision in such a machine offeatures rendering the same operable with safety regardless ofcarelessness in the manipulation thereof.

More particularly the invention relates to means whereby the starting ofthe machine is impossible until after the usual safety door has beenclosed, and likewise the door may not be reopened until the moving partsof the machine are at rest, i

Specifically the objects of the invention are to provide for-the abovepurpose a me chanical interlock between the door latch and the controlmechanism of the machine, which shall be simple, certain in operation,fool proof,.and Withal inexpensive of manufacture. The exact nature ofthe in vention, together with its advantages,will be apparent from thefollowing descript on taken in connection with the accompanying drawingsin which Fig. 1 is a front elevation of an over-driven extractorarrangedfor belt drive and embodying my invention, parts being brokenaway and parts in section to more clearly show the construction thereof.Fig. 2 is a side elevation of the lower portion of the machine. Fig. 3is a detail in elevation of the machine. Fig. 4, a horizontal section inthe plane of lines 1% of Figs. 1, 2, and 3. Fig. 5 is a detail sectionin the plane of line 55 of Figs. 1, 2, and 8,'the position of themechanismbeing shown in that cor-. responding with the extractor basketidle and the controllever latched in theoff position. Fig. 6 is a detailsimilar to that of Fig. 5 showing the control lever in oifpositioii ofthe driving mechanism butwith the extractor. door latched closed. Fig. 7is a horizontal section in the plane of lines 7-7 of Figsl, 2, 3, and12. Fig. 8 is a detailed side view of the door counterbalancingmechanism with parts broken away to show construction. Fig. 9 is ahorizontal section of a centrifugal latching device employed, taken inthe plane of line 9-9. of Fig. 1. Figs. 1 and 11 are similar details inthe planes of line 1010 and 1111 respectively of Figs. 1 and 12. Fig. 12is a detail-ed section in the plane of line 12 12 of Figs. 1, 9. 10, and11 with certain parts broken away. Fig. 13 isa detail of the brakemechanism.

In the drawings 1 indicates the base of the machine, forming with theuprights 2 and supporting bracket 3, the stationary frame of themachine. SuSpendedfrom the bracket 3 bymeans of a swivel mechanism 4;and arms is acurb '6, in the lower central portion of which is a bearing7 for the spindle 8 upon which is mounted for rotation therewith abasket 9 having foraminous walls.

Fixed upon the spindle 8 is a pulley whereby the basket may be driventhrough the belt 11 by the drive pulley 12, the belt running over idlerpulleys 13 and 14 as in dicated. The pulley12 is fixed on the shaft 15uponwhich is also secured a fast pulley 16' and corresponding therewitha loose pulley 17, a continuously driven belt 18 being movable to runover either of the pulleys 16 and 17 to drive or release the extractorbasket, movementof the belt- 18 being controlled by a pair of arms 20mounted on a. belt shifter rod 19 slidable in bearings 21. The end ofthe belt shifter rod carries a cl-cvis 22 in connection with lever 23fastened upon the rock shaft 24: upon the forward end of which ismounted a handled control lever It will be obvious that movement of thehandle of the lever 25 to the right, Fig. 7,. will position the beltl8upon the tight pulley 16 to drive the extractor and movement ofthehandle to theleft will effect a transfer of the driving belt to theloose pulley 17, re-

leasing the drive fromthe machine.

A brake shoe 28 is mounted as indicated in Fig. 18 upon the lever'27 andoperable by the hand wheel 26 to engage the face of the'pulley 10toquickly bring the basket to rest upon disconnection of the driving meanstherefrom.

At the front of the machine is provided a cover or door 29 provided withoutwardly extending arms 30 upon which are mountec rollers 31 engagingvertical tracks 32 on which the door may be raised to afford access tothe o Jen mouth of the basket, 'orl'owered to guard the basket, the doorbeing counterbalanced to its upper position by weights 35 suspendedfromchains 36 running over pulleysabove the door as indicated. The arm 33upon the door enters, in the lowered position thereof, a latch box 34and is engageable in this position by the notch of a latch incur ber 53pivotally mounted within the latch box as indicatedin F L Secure withthe spindle 8 is a member 3? provided with a pair of outwardly extendingarms 87? the ends of which project clownwards. Splined upon the hub ofthe member 2 37 is a member 38 provided with arms on tending beneath thearms 37, the arms of the member 38 terminating in arcuate cup shapeddepressions each forming a race 38 for a ball 39. The formation of theball races is such thatuponappreciabl-e rotation of the spindle 8 theballs will be thrown to the position indicated in Figs. 9, l0, and 11 bycentrifugal action, the bottoms of theraces however being soinclinedthat the balls will move to the lower portion 38 of the aces asthe spindle ceases to rotate. The downwardly projecting ends of the arms37 extend only partially over the ball races 38 the arrangement beingsuch that when the spindle is substantially in a state of rest,,arms 37will be cleared by the balls to allow full upwardm'ovement of the member38 but upon appreciable rotation of the spindle, the balls will moveupward and outward in their races to form a positive stop between themembers 37 and 38 to prevent any upward movement of the member 88,. acollar 40 fast upon the hub of the memberfi? limiting downward motionofthe member 38.

As well shown in Figs. '11 and 12, the'arcuate cup-shaped depressions orraces 38 not only have bottoms sloping downwardly and inwardly towardthe axis, but the curve of the depressions in such that they extend frompoints beneath the abutments or downwardly extending ends of member 37*inwardly to ward the axis and forwardly in the direction of rotation ofthe spindle and basket, which is clockwise in Figll. l heslightestrotation of the basket therefore not only throws themoutwardly, but causes them to travel around the curve into the pocketedends of the depressions, where they are held, not only by the eflect ofcentrifugal force. butalso by r the momentum effect of the baske't, insuch manner that "their tendency to return to the inner ornon-obstructing position is so slight and is resisted by suchpreponderant forces that the rotational speed of the basket must be verymaterially reduced and almost if not actually, at zero speed before theballs travel inwardly.

Adapted to bear upon the faced surface 41 of member 38 is a pair ofshoes 42 carried by a yoke 43 fixed upon the rock shaft 44 which issuitably mounted in the frame as indicated. A lever 47 provided withanextended abutment surface is fixed upon the end -of the rock shaft, anda lever 49 terminating in a sphericalhead as at 48 is fix-ed upon a rockshaft '50, whereby motion the rock shaft 44 to move itsabutinent surface47 upwards is converted into clockwise motion (Figs. 1 and 3) ofthe-'rock'shaft 50. Upon the near end of rock shaft 50 (Figs .1 and 3)is a lever 52'proj'ectingthrough a slot in the latch box 34 andcarrying-on its end a finger 52 extending into the plane of the latch53.

- By the mechanism described it willbe obvious that the weight of themember 38 is transmitted to themember 53 to urge the latch in acounter-clockwise directionKFigs. land 3); and that when the balls 39are caused by rotation of the spindle to assume a position beneath thearms 37?, the lug 53 will be positively pr vented from movement from theposition shown in Fig. l to that shown in Fig.3 ;'that is, provided thedoor 29 hasbeen lowered to closed position its opening will bepositively prevented during appreciable rotational. velocity 'ofthebasket 9.

Extending downwards from the pivot of the latch 53 is alever arm 53.Upon the control lever 25 is a lug extending through a slot 56 in thelatch box 'cover into the plane of the arm 53 whereby completion of themovement "of the control lever to the off posit'on will'efi'ect releaseofth'e latch from "the door, which will thereupon rise; but suchmovement will be prevented the Ccntlifth gal mechanism described duringmotion of the basket, although movement of the control lever merelyto aposition in which the lug 55 abuts the lever 58? is sufiicient tocomplete shifting of the belt l8onto the idle pulley '17.

In the cover of the latch box are mounted for longitudinal movement thepushbuttons or' pins 61 and'64 backed by a lever 6% whereby depressionofeither of the pushbuttone will efi'ect projection of the other buttonoutwards. A spring pr'essed ball '62 is arrange'dto co-operate withdepressions in the lever '60 to retain the same, and therefore the pushbuttons, in either of the positions indicated in Figs. 5 and 6. The pushbutton 64 is so positioned as to'prevent, when project ing o'ut'wards asin Fi 6, the control lever 25 affectingthe latch 53 ;,and the pushbutton 61 is positkined so that after depression of the button (34andrclease of the door, thebutton 6lwill prevent movement of the controllever to throw the belt'1'8 upon the driving 1 sition is subject todepression of the push button 61.

Pivotallymounted at 58 is a bell crank looking lever 57 urged by thespring 59 to a position in which its lower arm 57 abuts the end of thelever 60 in alignment withthe push button 61, as indicated in Fig. 5,whereby depression of the push button (31 to clear the control lever isnormally positively prevented. The opposite arm oi the bell crank 57,how'- ever, is engageable by a bent extremity of the member 33 upon thedoor, in closed position of the door, to more the bell crank to theposition indicated in Fig. 3 wherein the arm 57* assumes the positionindicated in Fig. 6, clearing the push button which may then be depressed as shown in Fig. 6 and the control lever thereupon moved to onposition.

Fom the above description it is obviousthat opening of the door ispositively prevented at all times except when the basket is substantially at rest; and movement of the control lever to on position is.positively prevented pending prior closing of the door.

Operation of the machine will therefore be as follows, assuming themachine idle, the door opened and the control lever and latch mechanismin position as indicated in Fig. 5.

To start the machine it is first necessary that the door be lowered toclosed position whereupon it is immediately latched by the action of themember 52 upon the latch 53 as described, this action being sufiicientto move the control lever from the fully off position. to that of Fig.if necessary. Movement of the control lever beyond the position of Fig.5, that is, suflicient to move the belt 18 to start the spindle, isprevented by the button 61. The doorbeing now closed and the lever arm57 being consequently in a position (Fig. 6) clear of the lever 60 theoperator may press the push button and start the machine by throwing thecontrol lever to the right. As the basket starts to rotate the balls 39move outwards in their races to positively prevent release of the doorby the latch 53.

To stop the machine the operator moves the control lever to the left,this movement being limited however by the push button 64 which is nowprojecting outwards from the latch boX into the plane oi: the lever asindicated in Fig.6. This limited motion oi the control lever issuiiicient to disengage the driv-.

ing belt from the driving pulley but not suliicient to cause engagementof the lug on the control lever to release the latch which is also stillpositively maintained'in the door secured position by the centrifugalmechanism described. llhe operator next applies the brake 26 whereupon,assuming that the basket is brought to rest,.the button 64 is nextdepressed and the control lever moved to the extreme left or latchrelease position releasing the latch from the door which thereuponrises. Upon release of the control lever it is moved again to theposition as in Fig. 5 by the action of the lever arm 52 acting throughthe latch member 53 with its lower member 53; further movement of thecontrol memberbeing prevented again by the push button 61 Fig. 5). l

What we claim is: 1

1. In an article otptheclassdescribed a frame, a container mounted forrotation therein, a movable door adapted to guard the mouth of saidcontainer, driving means for rotating said container, a levercontrolling said driving means, latch means tor securing said door inguarding position, a device responsive to rotation o'f said container, aconnection between said latch means and said device whereby the weightof a part oi the device tends at all times to maintain said latch meansin door securing position and positively maintains said latch member insaid position during rotation of said container, and said lever beingprovided with means to release the latch means upon movement of saidlever from driving position be yond its driving release position.

2. An extractor, comprising a frame, a rotatable basket therein, drivingmeans for said basket, a guarding door for said basket having open andclosed positions, means forlatching said door in closed position, and amovable actuator having three positions, to wit, on, off, and latchrelease, connec tions between said actuator and said driving andlatching means whereby movement of the actuator to the on and offposition starts or stops the basket and movement of the actuator to thelatch release position releases said latching means. I c

3. An extractor of the type described in claim 2, provided with amovable abutment obstructing or preventing movement or" the actuatorback and forth between on and off positions, and with door operatedmeans controlling movement of said abutment.

4. An extractor of the kind described in claim 2, including meansgoverned by rotation of the basket for preventing movementof saidactuator from oil position to latch release position unless therotational speed has been safely reduced.

5. An extractor of the kind described in claim 2, including dooractuated means for preventing movement of said actuator from ofi? to onposition unless the door is latched, and means governed by rotation o1.

connected for relative movement along the abutments and connecting meansbetween spindle axis, the upper member having abutsaid members and saiddoor latching means 10 ments and the lower member having pockets forcontrolling the latter; v containing balls, said pockets having s1op- Intestimony whereof We hereby affix our ing bottoms and extending from apoint besignatures. neath said abutment-s inwardly toward the I axis andforwardly in the direction of rota- CHARLES M. OTIS tion to a point outof registration with said FORREST J. COUCH.-

